Zhao Chunxia said in a deep voice, "He Wentian is a beast in human clothing, truly despicable to the extre. This is the master’s mistake in judgnt, causing such harm to you all. Alas..."
Wang Long was silent. But Li Xian said, "Senior Chunxia, there’s no need to bla yourself. The female disciples and elders of the Sword Sect were also captured. It’s just that a well-planned sche caught us off guard. Even if you avoided the first misjudgnt, a second crisis was unavoidable. If we consider it, perhaps this disaster was fated, but fortunately, it has already been resolved. In the future, good fortune will naturally be at your door, ensuring peace and smoothness."
Zhao Chunxia smiled and said, "So are you saying that my fate included you saving once?" Seeing that point, noticing Wang Long’s strange gaze, she added seriously, "Young friend Li Xian is right. Since it has happened, learn the lesson and rember it. There’s no need to dwell on it, adding to worries. Little Long, you must rember this."
Wang Long nodded and said, "Master is right; since the master is unhard, then Junior Sister Ji Hui..." Zhao Chunxia said, "Naturally, she is unhard. Li Xian, if the investigation here is done, what do you intend to do? Burn it down in one go, or sothing else?"
Li Xian said, "The Yin Qi here is dense, and the five elents are lacking. I fear it would be hard to extinguish quickly; instead, the smoke would roll, and the fire would blaze... attracting the soldiers of Flying Dragon City. What we must do now is to return to the camp, have a good rest, and then plan our next move."
Zhao Chunxia nodded, "That makes sense!"
The three of them returned the way they ca, back to the camp. Wang Long reunited with Ji Hui and also saw Lin Aoshan. Among so many won, the presence of a man stirred a lot of discussion. All ca to express their concern, offering warm soup.
Zhao Chunxia introduced Wang Long to each of the elders, smiling, "Little Long, in doing this, you have recognized your roots and returned to the fold!" The Five Mountains Sword Sect ford an alliance nad the "Five Mountains Sword Alliance," at a crucial ti, and with insufficient manpower, Zhao Chunxia took advantage of this and returned to the alliance, assuming an important elder position. Her disciple returned to the sect, rging into the Five Mountains Sword Alliance.
The matter of the Corpse Soldiers spread throughout the camp, causing the won to grind their teeth, wishing to cut them to pieces. But the place of storage was cold for a thousand years, difficult to tread upon, leaving them to harbor their grievances for revenge later on.
Wang Long learned the whole story from the won, knowing it was Li Xian who saved him. He was very grateful and admiring, yet the scenes at the storage place remained hard to fully digest.
After resting for another hour, the won changed clothes, dried their shoes and socks, washed their hair, relaxed, and breathed, managing everything in order, their looks revitalized. So carried sachets and rouge, which were used in turns by several of them, almost leading to a fight until a few elders stepped in to stop it.
Once the many trivial matters were dealt with, Li Xian sketched a map, drawing the places he had been through, in simple strokes, the terrain not detailed. He studied the map and thought, "Since there is a camp here, there must be a way out. If conditions allow, following the road out would an not having to delve deeper into the tomb. The depths of the tomb hold unknown dangers, truly hard to predict."
Thus, he gathered the elders to discuss the route strategy. Peng Sanluo, He Lijun, and Tang ngluo all nodded in agreent, but Wang Long said, "Brother Li Xian, this plan may be flawed." He was apprehensive, knowing of Li Xian’s unrivaled prestige.
Li Xian kindly smiled, "Please, Brother Wang, go ahead." Wang Long said, "I was previously chased by enemies and fled in all directions, knowing that if we leave from here, we must pass through the ’Arrow Burial Path.’ That place is full of Flying Dragon City soldiers, extrely dangerous."
"Though our numbers are many, if we reach that place, who knows how many would survive. If we head deeper, I encountered the elders and disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance... they were heading deeper. If we first unite with them and capture He Wentian on the spot, using him as leverage might be better. Even if He Wentian escapes, by then, the Five Mountains Sword Sect would have achieved the Unity of Yin and Yang, capable of overcoming any obstacle."
The won all agreed, looking at Li Xian. Li Xian nodded slightly, smiling, "Then we’ll do as Brother Wang suggests and head deeper." He thought, "So in the Five Mountains Sword Alliance recognize my appearance; if we reunite, I must be well-prepared. These sword-wielding sects are prone to being pedantic and arrogant, radiating sharpness... quick to resort to violence under the guise of justice."
Wang Long vaguely recognized the path and led the way. After walking for half an hour, feeling restless, he wished to chat casually with his fellow disciples, only to see Ji Hui chattering with Li Xian.
Occasionally, the sound of bells reverberated. Li Xian thought, "The closer to the Black Hall, the more frequent the bell sounds; if I’m not mistaken, the interval between tolls is now less than ten breaths. Upon entering the hall, the toll will surely quicken. As soon as we adapt, the situation will change again."
They reached a wide area, footprints densely packed. Wang Long said, "Brother Li Xian, I previously spied on the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and He Wentian here... I know they have good relations, and the Sword Sect elders trust him greatly."
Peng Sanluo cursed, "That scoundrel He Wentian has many tricks, skilled at manipulating people’s hearts. Our Sword Sect elders and disciples are all of strong character, but their thinking and sches are indeed weaker, making it easy for him to toy with them."
He Lijun said, "This matter is indeed disgraceful. Only by capturing that villain alive can we ease the hatred in our hearts."
Though underground, the area had a vast view. Looking up, specks of light were like being amidst the Milky Way, endless starlight within reach. At the top was a type of "Star Sand Ore," from which the specks of light originated.
After traveling half a day, crossing dangerous barriers and rivers, they arrived at a vast White Jade Square, wide and magnificent. Before them stood the Black Hall, towering and majestic, exuding majesty like a palace underground.
Li Xian sighed, "Truly a human masterpiece." Zhao Chunxia said, "The owner of this tomb constructed an Underground Palace before dying, leaving Corpse Soldiers outside it. It seems they held great power in life, deeply attached to their status, wanting to bring it underground. It’s a pity I’m not skilled in history, or I’d surely discern the tomb owner’s identity from clues."
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